Berean Standard Bible
1 Chronicles 21:12
12between three years of famine, three months of being swept away1 before your enemies and overtaken by their swords, or three days of the sword of the LORD—days of plague upon the land, with the angel of the LORD ravaging every part of Israel.’ Now then, decide how I should reply to Him who sent me.”
1 Chronicles 21:12 in other versions
- King James Version (KJV)Either three years’ famine; or three months to be destroyed before thy foes, while that the sword of thine enemies overtaketh thee; or else three days the sword of the Lord, even the pestilence, in the land, and the angel of the Lord destroying throughout all the coasts of Israel. Now therefore advise thyself what word I shall bring again to him that sent me.
- New International Version (NIV)three years of famine, three months of being swept away before your enemies, with their swords overtaking you, or three days of the sword of the Lord—days of plague in the land, with the angel of the Lord ravaging every part of Israel.’ Now then, decide how I should answer the one who sent me.”
- English Standard Version (ESV)either three years of famine, or three months of devastation by your foes while the sword of your enemies overtakes you, or else three days of the sword of the Lord, pestilence on the land, with the angel of the Lord destroying throughout all the territory of Israel.' Now decide what answer I shall return to him who sent me."
- New King James Version (NKJV)either three years of famine, or three months to be defeated by your foes with the sword of your enemies overtaking you, or else for three days the sword of the Lord—the plague in the land, with the angel of the Lord destroying throughout all the territory of Israel.’ Now consider what answer I should take back to Him who sent me.”
Context of 1 Chronicles 21:12
10“Go and tell David that this is what the LORD says: ‘I am offering you three options. Choose one of them, and I will carry it out against you.’” 11So Gad went and said to David, “This is what the LORD says: ‘You must choose between three years of famine, three months of being swept away before your enemies and overtaken by their swords, or three days of the sword of the LORD—days of plague upon the land, with the angel of the LORD ravaging every part of Israel.’ Now then, decide how I should reply to Him who sent me.” 13David answered Gad, “I am deeply distressed. Please, let me fall into the hand of the LORD, for His mercies are very great; but do not let me fall into the hands of men.” 14So the LORD sent a plague upon Israel, and seventy thousand men of Israel fell dead.
Read all of 1 Chronicles 211 Chronicles 21:12 word by word
אִם־שָׁל֨וֹשׁ שָׁנִ֜ים רָעָ֗ב וְאִם־שְׁלֹשָׁ֨ה חֳדָשִׁ֜ים נִסְפֶּ֥ה מִפְּנֵי־צָרֶיךָ֮ וְחֶ֣רֶב אוֹיְבֶ֣ךָ׀ לְמַשֶּׂגֶת֒ וְאִם־שְׁלֹ֣שֶׁת יָ֠מִים חֶ֣רֶב יְהוָ֤ה וְדֶ֙בֶר֙ בָּאָ֔רֶץ וּמַלְאַ֣ךְ יְהוָ֔ה מַשְׁחִ֖ית בְּכָל־גְּב֣וּל יִשְׂרָאֵ֑ל וְעַתָּ֣ה רְאֵ֔ה מָֽה־אָשִׁ֥יב אֶת־שֹׁלְחִ֖י דָּבָֽר׃ פRead the interlinear
- betweenאִם'im · ifH518
- threeשָׁלֹשׁshâlôsh shâlôsh shelôshâh shelôshâh · threeH7969
- yearsשָׁנָהshâneh shânâh · yearH8141
- of famineרָעָבrâ‛âb · famineH7458
- monthsחֹ֫דֶשׁchôdesh · monthH2320
- of being swept awayסָפָהsâphâh · to snatchH5595
- beforeפָּנֶהpânîym · face: beforeH6440
- your enemiesצַרtsar tsâr · enemyH6862
- and overtakenנָשַׂגnâώag · to overtakeH5381
- by their swordsחֶ֫רֶבchereb · swordH2719
- by their swordsאֹיֵב'ôyêb 'ôyêb · enemyH341
- daysיוֹםyôm · dayH3117
- of the LORDיְהֹוָהyehôvâh · LORDH3068
- days of plagueדֶּ֫בֶרdeber · pestilenceH1698
- upon the landאֶ֫רֶץ'erets · land: country/planetH776
- with the angelמַלְאָךְmal'âk · messenger: angelH4397
- ravagingשָׁחַתshâchath · to ruinH7843
- everyכֹּלkôl kôl · allH3605
- partגְּבוּלgebûl gebûl · border: areaH1366
- of Israelיִשְׂרָאֵלyiώrâ'êl · IsraelH3478
- Now thenעַתָּ֫ה‛attâh · nowH6258
- decideרָאָהrâ'âh · to see: selectH7200
- howמָהmâh mah mâ ma meh · what?H4100
- I should replyשׁוּבshûb · to return: returnH7725
- I should replyדָּבָרdâbâr · word: speakingH1697
- ·אֵת'êth · [Obj.]H853
- to Him who sent meשָׁלַחshâlach · to send: departH7971
Cross-references for 1 Chronicles 21:12
- 2 Samuel 24:13So Gad went and said to David, “Do you choose to endure three years of famine in your land, three months of fleeing the pursuit of your enemies, or three days of plague upon your land? Now then, think it over and decide how I should reply to Him who sent me.”
- Leviticus 26:26When I cut off your supply of bread, ten women will bake your bread in a single oven and dole out your bread by weight, so that you will eat but not be satisfied.
- 2 Samuel 21:1During the reign of David there was a famine for three successive years, and David sought the face of the LORD. And the LORD said, “It is because of the blood shed by Saul and his family, because he killed the Gibeonites.”
- 1 Kings 17:1Now Elijah the Tishbite, who was among the settlers of Gilead, said to Ahab, “As surely as the LORD, the God of Israel, lives, before whom I stand, there will be neither dew nor rain in these years except at my word!”
- 2 Kings 8:1Now Elisha had said to the woman whose son he had restored to life, “Arise, you and your household; go and live as a foreigner wherever you can. For the LORD has decreed that a seven-year famine will come to the land.”
- Lamentations 4:9Those slain by the sword are better off than those who die of hunger, who waste away, pierced with pain because the fields lack produce.
- Luke 4:25But I tell you truthfully that there were many widows in Israel in the time of Elijah, when the sky was shut for three and a half years and great famine swept over all the land.
- Leviticus 26:17And I will set My face against you, so that you will be defeated by your enemies. Those who hate you will rule over you, and you will flee when no one pursues you.
- Deuteronomy 28:15If, however, you do not obey the LORD your God by carefully following all His commandments and statutes I am giving you today, all these curses will come upon you and overtake you:
- Jeremiah 42:16then the sword you fear will overtake you there, and the famine you dread will follow on your heels into Egypt, and you will die there.
- 1 Chronicles 21:16When David lifted up his eyes and saw the angel of the LORD standing between heaven and earth, with a drawn sword in his hand stretched out over Jerusalem, David and the elders, clothed in sackcloth, fell facedown.
- Isaiah 66:16For by fire and by His sword, the LORD will execute judgment on all flesh, and many will be slain by the LORD.
- Jeremiah 12:12Over all the barren heights in the wilderness the destroyers have come, for the sword of the LORD devours from one end of the earth to the other. No flesh has peace.
- Jeremiah 47:6‘Alas, O sword of the LORD, how long until you rest? Return to your sheath; cease and be still!’
- Leviticus 26:10You will still be eating the old supply of grain when you need to clear it out to make room for the new.
- Deuteronomy 28:22The LORD will strike you with wasting disease, with fever and inflammation, with scorching heat and drought, and with blight and mildew; these will pursue you until you perish.
Commentaries on 1 Chronicles 21:12
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 12Three days - the pestilence in the land - In 2 Samuel 24:13; (note), seven years of famine are mentioned.Read the comment
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 12And the angel of the Lord destroying - These words are not in Samuel, which puts the third alternative briefly. They prepare the way for the angelic appearance 1 Chronicles 21:16, on which the author is about to lay so much stress.Read the comment
- Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 1-30This account of the census is similar to 2 Samuel 24:1–25 but focuses on different aspects. The Chronicler’s version sets the stage for dedicating the altar and preparing to build the temple (1 Chronicles 22).Read the comment
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 11-1211-12. Choose thee, &c.--To the three evils these correspond in beautiful agreement: three years, three months, three days [Bertheau]. (See on 2Sa 24:13).Read the comment
Topics related to 1 Chronicles 21:12
In the dictionaries
Notes
- 1. 1 Chronicles 21:12 Hebrew; LXX and Vulgate of fleeing; see 2 Samuel 24:13. ↩
Commentaries on 1 Chronicles 21
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary
- Tyndale Open Study Notes
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary
- Rashi on Tanakh
- Keil & Delitzsch Commentary
- John Wesley’s Notes
- Darby Translation Notes
- Geneva Bible Translation Notes
- Kingcomments
- Matthew Henry’s Complete Commentary
- Matthew Henry’s Modern English Commentary
- Scofield Reference Notes, 1917 Edition
- Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
- EGW Writings
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